Dacia Sandero RenaultSport on the cards

Renault’s budget sub-brand Dacia is working on a hot range-topping version of the Sandero. A new teaser video shows a Renault-badged Sandero with a makeover from Renaultsport, the performance kings behind the Nürburgring-busting Megane 275 Trophy R.

Previous spyshots have also show Dacia testing a hotter Sandero prototype, but there’s bad news for those hoping for a cut-price road rocket heading to our shores: The Renault Sandero RS is set to be an emerging market car only, for Russia and Brazil.

This Sandero’s bodywork is all standard as it’s only a test mule, but hot hatch clues come in the form of 17-inch alloy wheels from the Renault Clio GT, and disc brakes at the rear – regular Sanderos only get rear drums to keep costs down.

This Sandero is also sporting a crudely extended exhaust pipe, hinting at changes to the powertrain, while the teser video shows new LED running lights. and a more aggressive front bumper design.

Under its unremarkable skin, the Sandero uses a cocktail of Renault parts-bin components, so there’s plenty of engine candidates for the hotter Sandero RS. It’s not thought the budget pocket rocket will enjoy the same turbocharged 1.6-litre, 197bhp powerplant used in the current Clio 200 Turbo.

Sadly for UK hot hatch fans, Dacia won’t be adding the Sandero RS to its strong-selling UK range. In fact, the Sandero RS isn’t bound for any EU markets, Auto Express can confirm, as Dacia looks to capitalise on emerging markets instead, and avoid cannibalising sales of Renault’s GT-line range of warm hatches.

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For cheap, fast Renault thrills, you’ll be waiting until later in 2015, when it’s understood a GT version of the new rear-engined, rear-drive Twingo city car will be launched. Set to feature a tuned variant of the standard car’s 0.9-litre turbo three-cylinder good for at least 120bhp, the 2016 Twingo GT should cost in the region of £15,000.

Do you think a hot Sandero is a good idea? Would you buy one if it came to the UK? Tell us in the comments section below…